10 Eco Ideas for Your Home
By HGTV
Eco-designer Danny Seo shares 10 simple ways to live more earth-friendly:
1. Ditch the Paper Towels!
Instead, pick up micro-fiber cloth towels to use all around the house. Thousands of tiny little fibers literally grip and hold onto the dirt and bacteria. The best part? They are machine-washable, so you can use them over and over again. Just spray a surface with a non-toxic, all-purpose cleaner and wipe away with the micro-fiber towels.
2. Java Scrub
The next time you brew a cup of fresh coffee at home, don't toss the used coffee grinds into the trash. First, spoon some warm grinds into your hands and mix it with your favorite hand soap. Now scrub away. The grinds will exfoliate dead skin off your hands and the soap will keep everything squeaky clean. Scatter the remaining grinds around your evergreen shrubs and trees ? it's an energizing fertilizer for them!
3. Soy Candles
When burning candles around the house, be sure to choose clean-burning soy candles. Traditional candles are paraffin-based, which is made from non-renewable petroleum. When burned they emit soot and smoke into the air, polluting your indoor air. Yuck! Soy candles are a much cleaner choice and made from ? you guessed it ? soy beans! They're easy to find and the best part is they burn longer than paraffin candles, so you get more soothing scents for your cents. One final tip: Place unlit soy candles in your sock drawer to gently scent them.
4. Dodge the Drafts
Keep the blustery cold air outdoors by stopping drafts at windows and doors. Place a draft dodger ? a long fabric tube ? along the edges where cold seeps inside to stop it in its tracks. For smaller windows, you can make your own dodger. Just fill a large sock, such as an athletic sock, with pebbles and tie a knot at the end.
5. Be Sparing With the Paint
Doing some home improvement work this weekend? When painting walls, make sure you buy just enough paint. Use the HGTV.com online paint calculator to help determine the right amount for the job. Select the type of surface you want to paint, the finish and dimensions of the room. This will help prevent buying too much paint and cut down on waste.
6. Put Your Computer to Sleep
Remove the screen saver off your computer. When those flying toasters are activated on your screen, the computer is still running on full power. Instead, put your computer in "sleep" or "standby" mode, so the stroke of a key will wake up your PC right away. You can also save energy at your workplace by making sure your co-workers aren't leaving their computers on all night long. Make it a corporate policy to have all computers shut down at the end of the work day.
7. Recycle Your Cell Phone
Bring your old cell phones to a Call2Recycle box. It's a non-profit program from the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation; they'll recycle your phone for free into new metal products. You'll find these collection boxes in stores like Radio Shack, Best Buy and The Home Depot. You can learn more at www.call2recycle.org.
8. Bring on the Bandanas
Try bandanas instead of paper napkins when entertaining. They're colorful, reusable, inexpensive and a fun way to dress up a table. You can find bandanas in most discount stores and military surplus shops. If you must use paper napkins, look for recycled paper versions that are made from used paper, not trees. Use a decorative hole punch to dress up the edges.
9. Trap Your Trash
Did you know most trash strewn on the street isn't from litterbugs, but from a gust of wind? Ill-fitting trash can lids (or overflowing cans of debris) are the real culprit. Wind blows trash away or a wild animal rips open a plastic trash bag, causing trash to stray all over the place. The solution is simple: just buy a trash can with a tight-fitting lid. Don't toss debris into overflowing public trash cans and ? you knew this ? recycle whenever you can.
10. Make Donations
If you're trying to find a new home for a piece of furniture, a bag of clothes, an old chandelier or anything that's hard to recycle, give FreeCycle a try. This free website connects people with things to give away with people who need those things. It's organized by ZIP codes, so it will put you into contact with groups in your community. No money can ever exchange hands and everything has to be totally free. You can learn more at www.freecycle.org.
Provided by HGTV - http://www.hgtv.com
10 Ways to Live Greener Today
The 2008 HGTV Green Home, located in Hilton Head, South Carolina
By Jason Pelletier
An LEED-certified auditor shares simple things you can start doing today to lessen your environmental impact -- at home and in the garden:
1. Get a High-Efficiency Showerhead
A high-efficiency showerhead saves up to 3,000 gallons of water per person per year. You'll also save $50 of energy costs and 1,000 .lbs of carbon dioxide per person per year. Today's latest and greatest are specially designed to conserve resources while still feeling like a decadent showerhead. Sink aerator attachments also save major water and go for as little as $2 per sink.
2. Recycle Water in Your Bathroom
Use devices such as the Sink Positive system, which allows you to reuse sink water for flushing your toilet. Or keep a bucket by the shower or tub and fill it with the cold water that comes out before the hot water kicks in. Then you can take the bucket outside and use it to water your plants.
3. Compost
Use a composter to turn your food and lawn wastes into rich mulch. It's a great way to reduce your trash production, and the combination of food waste and all of those falling leaves is the perfect mix for composting. Next spring you'll have rich compost ready to go for spring planting. For another great guide on how, why and what to compost go to http://compostguide.com/ .
4. Purchase Green Power from Your Utility
Most charge less than $5 per month extra. Not only will your power come from a renewable source, but you'll use the power of your spending to show utility executives and government officials that we need more investment in renewable energy projects.
5. Improve the Efficiency of Your Existing Hot Water Heater
Tankless and solar hot water heaters are great, but simple changes to your existing setup can cut your energy bills and carbon emissions by 25 percent or more. Reduce the temperature of your hot water heater to 120 degrees, wrap it in a water heater insulating blanket and insulate the first 3 to 6 feet of hot and cold water pipes. These changes should take you less than an hour and cost less than $50 to complete.
6. Use High-Efficiency Outdoor Lighting
A typical 100-watt floodlight, if used for six hours per day, can consume up to $40 of electricity over the course of a year and produce upwards of 400 pounds of CO2 depending on where you live. For starters, replace those floodlights with compact-fluorescent versions ? they're just as bright and use 1/4 the energy. Next, replace low-wattage halogen landscape bulbs with LED versions. They cut energy use by over 80 percent and can last for 10 years or more. Finally, install motion sensors on any nonessential lights. New versions just screw right into your existing light socket.
7. Replace High-Use Indoor Lights with Compact Fluorescents or LEDs
Today's compact fluorescent bulbs are better than ever. No long waits to get up to full power, high-quality light, sizes for almost any fixture and even versions that are dimmable for all of those recessed lights. They're more expensive to begin with, but between energy savings and much longer lifespan they pay for themselves in less than two years. Also, consider LED bulbs for those non-dimmable circuits (especially for holiday lighting). They are true energy misers, and will last for as long as you live in your house.
8. Load Up the Washing Machines
Make sure you run dishwashers and clothes washers only when they're full. Clothes washers are huge energy and water users, so make sure you're doing full loads (or adjusting the water setting) whenever possible. And most of us use far more water (and soap) then we need to when hand-washing, especially when compared to todays' high-efficiency Energy Star dishwashers. So save your time, water and power by putting those dishes directly in the dishwasher after a meal.
9. Drive Smarter
Hybrids, biodiesels, electric - today we have more choices than ever when it comes to efficient transportation. But, some simple changes in our existing driving habits can improve fuel efficiency by up to 25%. Tips include driving at (or near!) the speed limit, keeping your tires inflated, making sure oil and air filters are clean, and stepping on the gas / brakes carefully. Driving like a drag racer may be fun, but it has a substantial environmental cost!
10. Avoid the Daily Waste of Fast Food and Shopping
Next week, keep track of how much trash you generate by eating out and making trips to the store, I guarantee you'll be amazed! All of those bags, cups, and containers really add up and are stuffing our landfills to capacity. Bring your own plastic/metal boxes to your favorite take-out joint. You'll save resources and save them money. Use reusable shopping bags whenever you go to the store. Say "No Thanks" when the pharmacist or fast food clerk tries to put your one or two items in a bag. Use reusable cups for coffee and other beverages including for soda and fountain drinks. And, reuse some of the extras at home - keep extra napkins and reuse plastic cups and cutlery.
Find a Green Auditor in Your Area
Visit Low Impact Living's website to find a list of green products and services.
Provided by HGTV - http://www.hgtv.com
Back to Green Basics
Designer Linda Woodrum
By HGTV
Whatever your personal style, you can use eco-friendly decorating at home, says designer Linda Woodrum.
"If you're French country, if you're minimalist, if you're traditional, it doesn't impact your home at all," she says. "You don't have to throw out everything you own and start with a new look. We're going to help you sustain the environment with your own personal style."
Woodrum, who has created the interior designs of all the HGTV Dream Homes, says just doing a little research can help you make a difference in your home. "There are so many magazines now; everything you pick up has information on green homes, and you can read and read and read on the Internet."
Here are some of her suggestions for going green in your home:
Kitchens That Care
Woodrum says look for natural materials, such as natural stone countertops. "Think about things that won't end up in landfills and they're probably green. You don't see people pulling out granite counters and throwing them in the local landfills."
Look for cabinets made with sustainable woods such as eucalyptus or bamboo, or find cabinets made from salvaged or recycled wood. You can also save wood by just updating the fronts of your cabinets, instead of replacing everything. Shop for recycled hardware at flea markets or second-hand shops. There are also many manufacturers making tiles now using recycled glass. And make sure all the appliances carry Energy Star ratings.
Earth-Friendly Bathrooms
Woodrum says to follow the same guidelines used in the kitchen when choosing cabinetry, counters and tiles for your bath. Look for water-saving showerheads and toilets, and replace or repair any leaking faucets immediately. And look for energy efficient water heaters. Woodrum recommends an instant, tankless hot water heater rather than one large tank serving an entire house. Even if you're not home and no one's using a drop of hot water, a typical water heater can burn through $50 in electricity in one month just keeping the water in the tank hot.
Shop Locally
If you're choosing products to put in your home, try to stay local and buy products manufactured within 500 miles or less. "If it has to come from China, you're using a lot more energy getting it to your house than if you chose something made just down the road, or 100 miles down the road."
Pay Attention to Indoor Air Quality
"There are a lot of things we bring into our homes that we're not aware of. Some things are obvious, but start questioning all the things that come into your home." Woodrum says look for natural alternatives to items such as cleaning products, paints, furniture materials and pesticides.
Keep Landscaping Natural
"Using plants that are native to your area ? thus sustainable in your area ? are easier to grow," she says. "Choose plants that work within the natural climate and soil conditions to your area." She also says to avoid having a lot of grass. "We don't want to be watering lawns all the time. It's a huge waste of water."
Don't Cut Down an Oak Tree to Make a Banister
"It takes 500 years to grow that tree. Bamboo and eucalyptus grow quickly; they're hard woods and are sustainable. It replaces itself rapidly." But keep in mind the first point about looking for locally sourced products. "If it's bamboo flooring and it's coming from a country that's 500 miles away, that's not as good as buying from a company that's closer."
Healthy Living Room and Bedrooms
"A lot of the major carpet manufacturers are working to bring green into the home," Woodrum says. Green carpet is made of natural fibers, usually organically grown cotton and wool, or made from recycled materials. Or she recommends you buying new and shopping for antique rugs and furniture. "Anything antique is green."
You can look for green products to spread or stick to your walls, too. "All the major paint companies are now offering green products. And it's the same for wallpaper."
And try to stay earth friendly when it comes to the little things, like tchotchkes, knickknacks and accessories. "There are a lot of companies out there making fun things out of recycled materials," Woodraum says. But one instance where you don't want to go natural is with coral. "I love coral, but look for companies doing resin castings rather than a big piece of coral that's been ripped out of the ocean. Better to have the resin than to deplete the coral."
Provided by HGTV - http://www.hgtv.com
Kill the Bills
DIY Network
By Bob Parks
Sure, you want to save the environment, but saving money is high on the list, too. Wouldn't it be nice to have something to boast to the neighbor who asks every spring: "So, how expensive was your bill?" Tune up your home with these five easy projects and you'll have utility bills worth flaunting.
1. Stop temperature swings with a new thermostat
Are you living with a swinger? In the world of heating science, outdated thermostats promote wide temperature "swings" because they fail to anticipate final room temperature after your heater or air conditioner shuts off. On cold nights that means you may end up with boiling-hot rooms after every heating cycle. Most programmable units (priced from $40) have ingenious circuits to predict and limit temperature swing to four degrees in each room, saving up to 10 percent on heating costs annually. To install, remove the old unit from the wall and connect the existing wires to the new one. When choosing a spot for your thermostat, avoid spaces near windows, doors and direct sunlight. And bring the old thermostat to a city waste handler; it most likely contains a toxic gob of mercury that would break open if tossed in the trash.
2. Add weatherproofing with an insulated door
Sure, you could install a new storm door, but why not rethink the main front portal instead? According to U.S. Department of Energy research, a 1.5-inch thick insulated door offers five times the heat retention of solid wood. (You probably don't even need an additional storm, says the study.) Priced between $200 and $400, new foam-core wood, aluminum and fiberglass units come in styles that will flatter any contemporary or traditional home design. When choosing a door with integrated windows, look for several layers of glazing and low emissive ratings for the glass. Most new doors arrive pre-hung, meaning they come complete with a new frame to ensure a tight, weatherproof fit.
3. Lower utility bills with a rainwater harvesting system
Heating fuel isn't the only costly expense at home. The average U.S. family of four consumes nearly 90,000 gallons of water, costing as much as $500 annually from municipal suppliers. To save money when watering the garden, connect a rain barrel to the roof downspout. Specially-made barrels (costing between $80 and $130) come complete with filter screens, hose fittings, valves and even hand pumps. Hookup may require shortening your gutter drainage system so water runs into the barrel, but special kits (from $30) are also available to divert rainwater from the gutter. Experts say this water is better for plants than tap ? it's free of chlorine and fluoride and slightly acidic to help plants access nutrients in the soil.
4. Bring back the old-fashioned window cornices
You probably keep your windows covered with drapes on cold nights ? both for energy savings and good-old modesty. But you still might be losing heat if your window treatments are installed incorrectly. Drapes with narrow air gaps between rod and window create a chimney-like effect, drawing warm air from the bottom, cooling it against the window and blowing it toward to the ceiling. To combat this, make a wooden cornice, a rectangular wooden box that fits over the curtain rod. For the ultimate green renovation, build a cornice from spare finish wood or wood furring from a salvage yard, making sure to design it to fit snugly against the tops of drapes. At the bottom, window treatments should be hemmed to brush against the still or floor to further discourage air circulation. According to the U.S. Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy office, such measures can reduce a drape's heat loss from the normal 10 percent to an extraordinary 25 percent.
5. Start saving energy in the backyard
For an energy-saving measure that looks good and costs next to nothing, plant a row of evergreen trees on your lawn to act as a windbreak. Evergreens provide a barrier to cold winter air, which typically blows against the north and west sides of homes in most areas, drawing domestic heat off with it. Pick saplings (from $10) that are local to the area, but keep in mind that Norway, white and Colorado blue spruce work best if you can get them to grow well. Plant the trees a distance from your house that's two to five times the height of the grown tree for the best defense against wind. If lower branches are sparse, plant some arborvitae hedges behind them for a compound effect. When you're ready to plant, simply start digging ? it may require more elbow grease than green thumb, but energy savings begin in three to five years.
Bonus Tip: Create an icy-cold attic
No matter how warm you want your house this winter, make sure one room is cold: the attic. A freezing top story is a sign that heat isn't spilling up through the ceiling, meaning the airspace is properly ventilated to protect the roof, preventing damaging condensation inside and ice dams out. First look for areas where warm air may escape: plumbing pipes sticking up through the floor, recessed lighting, hatch doors, chimneys, duct chaseways and electrical fixtures. Fix large holes with expanding foam and smaller ones with latex caulking. Finally, find out if you have enough fiberglass insulation by looking across your attic to see if the current insulation is level with your floor joists. If not, roll out more and reap the savings.
